1. Protestant Funeral Rites
Liturgical vs. Non-liturgical

2. Liturgical (Eucharist-centered) Worship
“a prescribed order or form of worship specific to a particular denomination which will have the Eucharist or Holy Communion as its central element”
Rubrics: “stated directions in a prayer book or liturgical manual regarding the order of service as approved by the denomination”
Gospel lectern vs. Epistle lectern

3. Liturgical Architecture
Transepts: “wings of the main part of the church which may serve as small chapels for baptism, weddings, and even small funeral services”

4. Liturgical Protestant Funeral Rite
Notification of the Clergy
Removal of Remains
Preparation of the Remains
Dressing and Casketing Remains
Pre-service Considerations: honorarium
Funeral Service: pall, crucifer, chancel, name, narthex, vestments, acolytes
Committal Service

5. Episcopal Funeral Rite
Priest: “a title conferred by ordination”
Deacon: “a subordinate officer in a Christian church”

6. Lutheran Funeral Rite
Synods

7. Non-liturgical Protestant Funeral Rite
Non-liturgical (scripture centered) worship: “a form or order of worship which has the scriptures as its central element; the actual form or order of the worship service is left to the discretion of each individual church and/or minister”

8. Non-liturgical Funeral Rite (cont’d)
Notification of the Clergy
Removal of Remains
Preparation of Remains
Dressing and Casketing
Pre-service Considerations
Funeral Service
Committal Service

9. Protestant Funerals in Other Facilities
What are some examples of facilities that may be used for funerals?
What are some of the considerations the funeral director must attend to?

10. Roman Catholic Funeral Rite

11. Glossary Terms
brother, celebrant, Christian Burial Certificate, crucifix, crucifer, diocese, eucharist, final commendation, genuflect, holy water, mass, mass cards, nun, pall, paschal candle, priest, prayer cards, prie dieu, rosary beads, rosary prayers, rosary service, sanctuary, scapular/amice, spiritual bouquet cards, vigil lights, wake, wake service

12. Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop Monsignor Priest Deacon Eucharistic Minister

13. Roman Catholic Funeral Rite
Notification of the Clergy
Sacrament of the Sick
Removal of the Remains
Preparation of the Remains
Dressing and Casketing the Remains

14. Roman Catholic Funeral Rite Considerations
The Wake (Rosary Service, Vigil Service)
The Funeral Mass
Recessional

15. Committal Service Cremation

16. Fraternal Organizations
What are some important considerations for the funeral director when fraternal organizations with to conduct a ceremony?

17. Veterans Organizations
What are the responsibilities of the funeral director when working with Veterans organizations who are participating in the service?

18. Orthodox Church Funeral Rites
Greek Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox church
Orthodox Catholic Church

19. Government Council of Bishops called a synod
Majority of members belong to the Greek Orthodox churches.

20. Terms
Cantor
Deacon
Divine Liturgy: liturgical celebration of the Eucharist
Icon: holy picture
Iconostasis (Iconostas, Iconostation): partition that extends across the front of the church separating the sanctuary from the solea

21. Terms (cont’d) Parastas: vigil service
Royal Doors: in the center of the Iconostasis leading directly to the altar; only ordained clergy are to go through these doors
Trisagion: 3 short services/blessings that are part of the funeral rite

22. Notification of the Clergy
no restrictions
no “last rites” are administered
FD does not need to contact the priest unless requested to do so

23. Removal and Preparation of Remains
no restrictions
majority will choose a traditional funeral service
generally disapprove of cremation

24. Dressing and Casketing
no restrictions
deceased priests may be dressed by priests

25. Pre-service Considerations
begin with Trisagion
held in the FH the evening before the funeral service and again the following day
normally, candles placed at each end of the casket, cross behind the casket, and an icon at the foot end of the casket

26. Funeral Service generally not on Sundays and certain Holy Days
Trisagion held at the FH immediately before the funeral service
service is short and then attendees move in procession to the church for the funeral service

27. Arrival at the Church flowers may not be allowed
casket and family move into the church and are met by the Priest
Priest blesses the casket with holy water
Cantor will accompany the Priest
casket is led feet first

28. Funeral Service casket is usually open
service will follow a liturgical order (Parastas/Great Panachida)
eulogy may be offered towards the end
after eulogy, casket turned parallel with Iconostasis
Priest anoints body with earth/sand and olive oil

29. Icons
very important
may be placed in the casket, on the breast or arm of the deceased
generally placed at the foot end of the casket

30. Ceremony of the Last Kissing
those seated on the right side of the church may pass the casket, stopping to kiss the Icon
Icon is then moved to the head end of the casket and those seated on the left side of the church may stop and kiss the Icon

31. Committal Service Usually earth burial or entombment
Priest will lead the casket in the procession to the burial site
Cantor will accompany the Priest
readings and prayers, ending with a closing prayer